One of the talking points from the recent local elections was the impressive performance of first time candidate Martin O’Neill, who missed out on a seat by just a handful of votes. The significant support for the teacher at St Kieran’s College may have surprised some but it shows that there is a healthy appetite among the electorate for an alternative vote. Affable, approachable and with ample enthusiasm and ability to boot, it is easy to see why the first Social Democrats candidate in Kilkenny City fared so well.
Key issues for Mr O’Neill locally include the completion of the Ring Road and queries around why this hasn’t happened to date and raising awareness and effecting change and improving rights in the area of disability. According to Mr O’Neill, housing is another area which needs to be addressed and he says his party has some innovative ideas in this area. “The big thing on the doors was housing, this is a huge issue and people who have adult children living with them.
We are calling for a scheme whereby if people are over 25 and working they could apply for a government funded mortgage. We would like to see being set up as a pilot scheme in Kilkenny to help address what is a national emergency. “We are also against the discrimination fo refugees and asylum seekers and would like to see people welcomed,” he added.
Mr O’Neill say he is hard working and passionate about doing the best in can for the people of Kilkenny. He is also fervent in encouraging.
